Another Letter From A Jehovah’s Witness

I received the following note recently, regarding a post I made several years ago. It was on reading into the scriptures. I thought the reasoning of this Jehovah’s Witness was quite telling. I’m including his response in its entirety.

“Excuse me, but Doug, the bible speaks of false godly people, and in 2 Timothy 3 : 5 that men would be having “an appearance of godliness but proving false to it’s power.” I think you bring an example of this. Also we Jehovah Witnesses believe that we are the only true religion because in John 13 : 35 it said, “By this all will know that you are my disciples – if you have love among yourselves.” Have you ever seen a more unified loving organization? Plus we don’t always do things because we aren’t sure of it, which means we don’t want to take our chances such as oral sex. What happens if it is a sin? Also in Matthew it mentions how his disciples would preach the word through out the whole word, and what have we done? Just that! Showing we have the true religion, no matter what anybody says.”

This was my response:

Okay so let’s just take your line of reasoning out a little further.

The Bible says that God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth right? (Rev 11:18) So since automobiles belch greenhouse gases as well as pollution, anyone driving a car out in field service would be destroyed at Armageddon.

Let’s make a new rule: Anyone caught driving an automobile is to be disfellowshipped.

Since Styrofoam products aren’t biodegradable then let’s disfellowship anyone using those products.

But let’s not stop there…since cattle are a large part of the greenhouse emissions, and since the beef industry is largely responsible, let’s make a rule that anyone eating a hamburger be disfellowshipped.

Do you see how messed up your line of reasoning is? Reading things into the scriptures because you want to be “absolutely sure” (when all you’re really doing is misusing scripture as a license to legislate behavior), leaves a LOT of room for interpretation and is, in my view, going way “beyond the things written” (1 Cor 4:6). I also find it quite laughable that anything “new” that the Governing Body comes up with is called “New Light” as if it emanated from Jehovah Himself.

I remember one of our District Overseers had a real problem with men wearing any sort of jewelry like necklaces or bracelets. This was his line of reasoning:

“Homosexuality is condemned in the scriptures. Homosexuals are known to wear jewelry, therefore jewelry worn by men is tantamount to a homosexual act and alerts other gay men that you’re open to experimentation.”

You simply can’t make this stuff up! We had an elder who wore a medical alert bracelet that was gold and attractive and this District Overseer had the unmitigated gall to criticize him for it.

How pompous would one have to be to reason: “Well this is what Jehovah really meant when He said this and He forgot to include this and that and the other thing…”

To assume the role of “God” in the lives of your followers is one of the hallmarks of cult leaders. I can’t think of anything more presumptuous than to read into scripture, as if you know better than God.

With regard to your assertion that your organization is filled with love:

I’ve been in your organization. I spent half my life in it. “Love” isn’t a word that I would use to characterize the way most JW’s treat each other and I’ve got a long list of former JW’s (30,000 plus on this blog alone) who would strongly agree with that last statement. I would add that most of those in positions of responsibility that I’ve come into contact with, have a terrible record of abusing their privilege. The elders and overseers that are the most loving and kind, usually encounter the most difficulty in this organization and I’ve seen that from the District level on down to the local congregations.

I’ve seen the “love” that this organization metes out to those it deems “weak and mentally diseased”. I’ve seen the families torn apart because of their Machiavellian methods and I’ve seen plenty of JW and ex JW suicides in my lifetime.

With regard to your assertion that your religion is the only “truth” because you knock on doors:

The fact that you proselytize doesn’t confirm your organization as teaching “the truth” anymore than standing in a parking space makes you a car.

I’m reminded of Christ’s admonition to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:15:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”

No, I think I’ll get along just fine without the “Faithful and Discreet Slave” telling me what to think, what to do, and what I can and can’t say and to whom.

Thank you for this! I struggle daily with my exes decision to remarry, and to a JW. The negative impact it has on my children is irreparable. The fact that they beat their 2.5 year old with a belt behind closed doors, while my girls sit outside and listen, breaks my heart. His new wife did something to make the elders mad (probably the soft porn modeling), and she was kicked out, but now back in, in her new city. The fact that my ex has been SO brainwashed just leaves me scratching my head daily. He is a play date Dad now, seeing them for 48 hours every 2 weeks, and most of that time is spent at the windowless church or door knocking in a bad neighborhood, and I cannot legally do anything about it. I and my children are counting down the years until they can choose not to go.

I spend 12 days straight working on positive reinforcement with my special needs 8 year old, to which they have nicknamed her “Doy!” As in Duh, and tell her and others that she is “dumb”. Having to rebuild after a 48 hour trauma visit, makes me wish daily that “their Armageddon” would come early, and leave the rest of us alone.

As usual Doug spot on. Like to hear more from you, but for some reason I’m glad I haven’t seen much this year. Hasn’t been a need to I’m guessing. As a non- JW or former JW you have helped me have compassion on these people because of the deep deception and the fact if one wants to leave they have to consider losing everything dear to them ( family, friends etc.) you have brought to light. Thank you.

Bravo Douglas! Well said. Hope Annon carefully considered your reply. Annons reasoning regarding “true religion” is typical of a JW and extremely shallow. Loving, unified, preaching.. blah.. blah.. blah. “oral sex” huh?
I have witnessed more love and unity among members of church I’ve been attending in past 2 years than i witnessed in 30+/- yrs at KH. Re preaching work: We don’t pile 5 into a car, drive around, leave mags under mats, make RV’s on same people for months and report time. I have witnessed awesome examples of lost souls turning to Christ in new church. Many not only teach but “treat the whole” person, meet all needs as able. Regarding “oral”. I don’t know, none of my or church business. Much more to write.. yet must run.. speak later.

First, the name of the Creator is not Jehovah. God has many names and I prefer to say Father, heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit.
JW’s don’t have Bible study, it is to show you what they believe and later after you become one it is to enforce what we want you to believe. These self appointed “chosen” think that they are God’s communication to us sinners.
The Holy Spirit gives you the desire to know God, to love God, to convict you of sin, to lead you to Christ, but does not indwell you unless you have given your life to Jesus. If Jesus isn’t the main theme of what you believe concerning God then you are just playing games, dangerous games, because you on the day of judgement are going to hell.
Why do you need someone to write books and explain what to believe. God’s word is very understandable. Read it, and let God talk to you, not as a text book, but God’s word, it will fill your heart with joy.

Doesn’t matter what you were baptised in, until Jesus becomes your Savior you are going somewhere that I don’t want to go.
Read the Bible by yourself and let God speak to you.
Jesus is fully God and He invites you. Do not sell your soul to these people.

Love it! Wish I could share this with my JW husband. He’s very intelligent and reasonable except for when it comes to his “religion”. So sad to be shackled by those chains when Jesus came to set us free! Thank you

In that day of judgement he will understand because they are going were none of us wants to go.
Why wouldn’t anyone read God’s word for themselves rather than let someone else tell you what it says, falsely I might add. God will talk to you in His word if you will let Him. Be still.
Blessings.

Thanks Doug for your response to the JW that said their org. has love among themselves(John 13-35) which they said proves they are the True Religion!! I look forward to your emails that keep me updated on your comments to JW’s!! Perhaps even just one JW will see clearly enough & be saved from that horrible org.!!

I myself have experienced situations as a former JW of 10 yrs. that certainly didn’t happen out of “LOVE”!!
My most recent experience was a knock on my door & there was a JW who knew me when I attended their congregation! I guess he didn’t know what to say seeing I dis-associated myself from the JW org & now he’s not allowed to talk to me! He stood there with a shocked expression when he recognized me & asked “Is your husband home”? My reply was—“No, he’s not right now”. His response was ” OK” & just about flew down my steps!! Just one example of the stiff rules & regulations that is such a burden on their followers!! Yet— they still consider themselves the “TRUE” religion!!
Such a shame!!

There are several of these key “touchstones” of the JW faith that their followers have been conditioned to “cycle through” when they are faced with anything that directly contradicts their organization or doctrine. This is part and parcel of cult conditioning. All mind control cults have the same key structure as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and so once you’ve studied the teachings of one, and then look at others, you understand all of them and how they work.

Here are the key Jehovah’s Witness “touchstones” in no particular order:

1. We are the only religion that goes “door to door”.

2. We are the only religion that refuses to take part in war.

3. We are the only religion that refuses to salute the flag.

4. We are the only religion that refuses to accept blood transfusions.

5. We are the only religion that uses the “true” name of God, and that is “Jehovah”.

There are more but these are usually sufficient to help “center” the JW when challenged by someone who knows more about the scriptures than merely quoting John 3:16.

When directly challenged and put into a corner, the Jehovah’s Witness becomes visibly agitated. They may lash out and become abusive. They may get short of breath. They have even been known to become physically ill. These, again, are all symptoms of extreme mind control conditioning and abuse.

Interestingly enough, those who suffer abuse at the hands of a parent or someone in authority, early on in life, tend to gravitate toward these very cults because, as many of us know, a “victim” needs an “oppressor”.

Mind control cults provide a comfortable “prison cell” that these victims willingly enter and lock themselves into. Once firmly inside, it is next to impossible to free them. The only way to get them out is to sufficiently motivate them to want to free themselves. You see, cult imprisonment is a choice of the victim. They build their own prison and they alone hold the keys to their own freedom.

I knew, at an early age, that what the Jehovah’s Witnesses taught was a lie. I knew it, because I read the Bible for itself. You see the meetings were terribly boring for me and so I would sit and read the actual scriptures in the NWT as well as the Kingdom Interlinear. I realized something wasn’t right. Later, when I was in my early twenties, I came to terms with the actual hypocrisy of the organization itself. Yet I did nothing about it because I was afraid of what my family and friends would do if I left or challenged them. This is another, very powerful “hook” that keeps their adherents on the “theocratic treadmill”, many for the rest of their lives. The fear of losing family and friends is probably the most traumatic thing any JW faces.

The fact that you were able to break free, Carole, speaks volumes about you.

Thank you for your heartfelt comment Bill. While I do not use this blog to “preach” to people about my beliefs, your words echo my exact sentiments. If you want to know God’s thoughts, read His words. It’s just that simple.

I’m reminded of the words of the Jewish leaders in the synagogue when the formerly blind man gave his testimony about Christ.

John 9:

“So the Jews again called the man who had been born blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man Jesus is a sinner.” He answered and said, “I do not know whether he is a sinner; one thing I do know, that, although I was blind, I now see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he give you your sight?” He replied, “I have told you already, but you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also wish to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man came from.” The man answered, “This is strange! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he gave me my sight! We know that God does not listen to sinners but that he does listen to him who worships him and does his will. Since the world began no one has ever heard of sight being given to a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered, “You were born wholly bad, and yet you would teach us?” Then they put him out of the synagogue.”

I remember telling myself that I wanted to live long enough so that I could see the Watchtower leaders recant their stance on 1914 and the generation lie. I got my wish, at least partially, several years ago. I don’t think they will ever totally abandon 1914 as an important date but their lie about the generation that saw that date not dying out most definitely has been exposed and they have as much as admitted it in their “new light”.

I used their flawed teaching about oral sex to make a point and to wake people up as to the intrusive nature of a mind control cult. How much more personal can you get than mandating what someone does in their own marriage bed with their lawful wife or husband?

Can you imagine having open discussion in church regarding oral sex when children are present? Yet that is exactly what happens in a Kingdom Hall. I didn’t know what masturbation or oral sex or homosexuality was until I learned all about it at the Kingdom Hall at the early age of six.

Many outsiders will find this to be absolutely shocking, yet these are the facts. Any honest JW will admit these subjects are talked about openly in their Kingdom Halls.

Is it any wonder that pedophilia and other abuses run rampant in the Watchtower organization?

Amazing how the Watchtower Adherents go on about how they are the only ‘Christians’ who show love. I was an Elder for many years and was in the cult for 49 years. This religion shows so much hate, that they actually curse every other person on the planet who is not controlled by their Apostate leaders. James said we cannot curse with our mouths and sing praises to the Lord. Matthew 7 comes to mind with this cult. They judge, judge and judge all the time.

This numb brained Guy who replied; actually had the Gaul to talk about a ‘sin’ that is not even mentioned in Gods word. They also worship a god who is followed and adored by Freemasons, The name Jehovah is a Roman Catholic Monk amalgamation from the 1200’s. The nearer name is Yahweh which they actually admitted is more correct, so why not use that name?

I also wanted to say that I was in that cult for 49 years and was an Elder for many. All I saw was hate for everyone who was not a cult member….love they do not know the meaning of it. Jesus said that we are to love our enemies, yet they teach to hate the world and all those in it. They Judge, Judge and Judge, yet ALL judging is given to Jesus Christ not them. They totally ignore Matthew 7…..that was a main reason I left and studied the Bible with a Bible College to find the real truth…..Yeshua/Jesus Christ.

The name Jehovah was the one of the first things that caught my attention. They like to talk about the Creator and actually His name is Elohim. Almighty God is El Shaddai.

Of course they have distorted so many things in God’s Word that you wouldn’t recognize it.
People label them a cult, I would call them Satanic. Who is the father of lies? Satan
They are sending these poor folks to hell on judgement day.

Yo quick question why did ya’ll support hitler back in ’33 and 20 years after that embarrassment you still teached White Racial Superiority? You guys must wish we all forgot about those. Russel’s and Rutheford were card carrying commies and you all know it.

Alena
Hi Doug,
They certainly are not inspired by any God, rather inspiration comes from another source, my guess that source is paper based, used to complete daily transactions and is carried around in wallets and purses.
I remember watching governing body member Geoffrey Jackson, on you tube, giving evidence at the Australian Commission, say that it would be presumptive to say that Jehovah Witnesses are Gods true religion on earth. No, the watchtower is not full of love, they are hateful and judgemental. The letter also said that they don’t want to take chances in case something is a sin? Uh hum, paedophiles protected by the WTBTS, flip flops on the blood issue, new light, verse changes in their bible, ……………… the list goes on.

They hardly mention Jesus Christ in there meetings only in their opening and closing prayer, I’m not sure but I think I’ve never heard a song of praise to Jesus, most songs they sing is about Jehovah, the faithful slave and about them going door to door. Their Watchtower Study is all about them having love among them selves and they say that their brotherhood is truly unique, and that they are the only true religion because of the bitter persecution they endured in the Nazi concentration camps in WW2 and in resent times.

Yes Bill, they seem to dismiss all the other 900 or so names for our Creator, the great I AM and as you say Elohim which is a plural….that is why Genesis is about Yahweh stating to the Logos/Word ‘Let us make MAN in our image’ Father God is all about family and Adam was created by the Word of God who became Yeshua on earth. They cannot get around John 1:1 so they distort it. If Yeshua/Jesus was just A god, then he would be a false god, as one of the first commandments to the Israelite’s was that they have no other god before HIS face. Many places in the Hebrew Torah states that the True God is one. Yeshua was God as the Word become flesh as John goes onto say in chapter 1. I would also agree Bill that the Watchtower religion is inspired by Satan and is yet another crafty way he keeps all the followers away from the name above ALL other 900 or more names of God. Our Lord Yeshua is above all and yet those pathetic satanists of the WT religion try to relegate our Lord to a low place, just as Satan tried when Yeshua was being tempted by that evil creature, Lets continue to pray for relatives, friends and all the others caught up in this trap of satanic rituals and name calling. Bless you Bill, Doug and all others on this forum, it does do a lot of good towards those searching for truth.

Love your blog.Im recently divorced.My ex and I reunited after 35 years .We split up basically cuz we were to young.She told me she was JW in a conversation soon after reuniting.I told her I didn’t agree with their teachings and didn’t want any part of it.She said ok .So she didn’t practice it for the first 31/2 years.Then there was a group of JW’z hanging out at the base of the pier handing out material and she got sucked back into it.From that point onward she became very abusive.Id like to say also she drank every day of our marriage also which to me was very hypocritical.To make a long story short our divorce was final 2 weeks ago.The hypocritical bs like in the passage is so true.Her daughter knocks on the doors trying to convert people then goes out at night and gets drunk.Its a joke

The reason the Watchtower Captives are two-faced and live a so called ‘sanctimonious’ lives at meetings and when they do the door plodding, but when they are not under those constraints they get drunk, go nightclubbing and most other things.

The reason is, they are not saved and definitely do not have the Holy Spirit living within them. They try to ‘obey’ the rules in the flesh, but as we know that is not possible for the majority….I knew a few Elders that loved their beer and often had too much. They are full of telling everyone one else how to live, just like the Pharisee’s did and yet they are full of hypocritical sin themselves. I could relate so many things about ‘Private’ Elders meetings where Elders admitted past serious sins and were slapped on the back and told, well it was in the past, so just forget it. Whereas an ordinary publisher would be dragged over the coals.

Good points, well made. There is no cage more secure than the one that a JW places himself in and refuses to take the key that is handed to him. I finally got out at age 62 after a lifetime of refusing to take the key. The peace, calm and freedom is truly liberating in a sense that I never thought could happen.

The bondage of the WT society should serve as a warning to all who neglect the provided gift of salvation of the righteousness of Christ and therefore go about to establish their own [ROM10:].Can you imagine then all pulling out their service cards .and presenting them to Christ at the Judgement seat [MATT 25:31-46}
may none of us ever forget what Jehovah requires of us [MIC 6:8]

I use to be a JW. I still have friends that are JW. When you talk about the guy here talks about the biggest group that show love to one another. If that were the case, I encounter many JW who sometimes share their feelings about their other brother or sister in the so called truth. Hypocrites. Back stabbers. They talk about and against other followers of the JW group. Yah, that is loving! As for their sex and rightousness, they harbour and hide and defend and also have as leaders and elders pedophiles. There is a yet nother big case that is once again taking place in regards of their so called love for one another in which many, many children are being destroyed at the hands of pedophiles amongst them. If they were actually following God’s word, they would not even have such people amongst them. When I was in the JW’s, my own daughter was molested by her father. He never got disfellowshipped, and because I chose to protect my children, I was treated like a criminal because they wanted everything to stay hush, hush, I got a lawyer and did everything to protect my children in which I won my case. Doug, I understand everything you say about that group. I know all who have come out of that group understood that thet were in no way Godly. Godly does not mean to be a JW. They need to do their research.

I’ve told people it’s like finally being able to take your hand off of a hot stove. Yes we are permanently scarred from the burns but the pain and misery of that existence no longer inflicting itself on us makes it so very much worth it!

It is very very easy for a former JW to get sucked back in. Triggers can be anything from a life change, a prolonged illness, losing a job or a national or international event. Sometimes all it takes is someone knocking on the door and BAM! They’re back in.

That’s why I always counsel those who are considering a relationship with a current or former JW to strongly consider the ramifications of such a thing. You simply can’t get away from it and there’s always a “theocratic elephant” in the room.

I went to church five times a week as a kid. Three of those times were with my JW mother and the other two times were with my World Wide Church of God father. Our parents were very strict in how my sister and I dressed. We could only wear dresses and they had to go well past the knee. The other JW children made fun of my sister and I both at the Kingdom Hall and at school. My mother believed I would not go back to being a JW because of these bad experiences I had with other JW children. I could never convince her it was the scandals and the doctrines that kept me away.

If there is so much love among these JW church members why did the leaders decree that their brothers in Malawi could not buy a 25 cent party card in a one party country, thereby causing thousands to be persecuted, imprisoned and even tortured?

On the other hand the leaders of the organization gave permission for their brothers and sisters in Mexico to bribe officials for documents that would untruthfully state he or she had done their required service in the military.

For many years the organization was registered in Mexico as an “Educational Organization” rather than a religious organization. Religious organizations could not own property in Mexico. The greedy Watchtower Bible and Tract Society came up with a way to keep a hold on their “Earthly Riches.” So much for that ole song, “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses We Speak Out In Fearlessness.” This decision by the leaders of the organization prevented their brothers from carry God’s Holy Scripture’s while they were going door to door. It prevented them from saying prayers at their “Educational Centers” (or whatever they were called because they were not called Kingdom Halls).

The Bible states that “Money is the root of all evil.”

The organization promoted more than a few false prophesies. Was this out of love for it’s members or out of love for selling books and magazines and all the lovely money they made.

JW Literature constantly focuses on members obeying the organization. I once read an article that stated that members who did not agree with the organization must still follow the organization and “Wait Upon Jehovah” to turn them around. Now this is truly a teaching of Satan!

All of this is established fact for anyone who was in during the time of the Malawi persecution. Ask anyone who was in the JW’s in Mexico during that time and they will verify it as the truth.

Total hypocrisy, plain and simple.

Here’s a version of the song that I wrote years ago. I think you’ll like it.

Sung to the tune of: “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses”
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
For our sins we could atone, but the true God we’ve not known. He is Christ Almighty, on His lofty throne.
Our leaders just cannot see what in future days will be. False prophecies they speak all in vain, since their chronology’s insane,
We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we speak out in thoughtlessness. Ours is the god of false prophecy. Nothing we say comes to be.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
“You’re our witnesses,” they said, “preach or you will wind up dead! We’re the “anointed remnant”, your new lords and head!”
“We found and recruited you, for our profits to accrue, keep selling magazines near and far, prove that our mindless slaves you are.”
We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we speak out in witlessness. Ours is the god of hypocrisy. Nothing we say comes to be.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Marketing exalts our name, boosts our membership and fame! Go recruit more people, who will do the same.
Pardon we’ll hold out to men, if they’ll turn their time slips in, thus earning tickets to “paradise”, although our teaching’s filled with lies.
We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we speak out in senselessness. Ours is the god of false prophecy. Nothing we say comes to be.

After encountering all the names for God, I became so confused that I just revert back to Father, Heavenly Father, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. To me it seemed disrespectful calling God by a name when I would call my earthly father, Father, Daddy, because if I had called him by his name, I would still be picking my teeth out of the back of my throat.
If Jesus was just a man as the JW’s claim, then he didn’t die for anyone’s sins, then we might as well throw our Bible in the trash and go home.
This religion or whatever you want to call it, is definitely Satan’s House. Sadly, I’m sure most of these good folks really want to know God.
We need to pray and ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this Satanic organization.
Blessings

Totally agree Bill, Jesus is the only Truth…no religion, just love and obey his 2 commands and that is what Grace is all about. We always have our Lord as our Sustain’er and as you say our Heavenly Father. Bless all you that are on this blog.

Not long ago I agreed to do a Bible study with JW and what bothered me was there was no prayer before and as we proceeded I just asked to stop, because something inside of me felt like this was not a Bible study at all, but them showing me what they believed. Yesterday this JW stopped by with another guy and ask me if I looked at their stuff and I said that I had and that I was very comfortable where I was believing in my salvation through Jesus and the other guy said that in John 3:16 you should be thanking the giver, not like everyone else does and thanking the gift. These people whip out scriptures faster than Wyatt Earp can draw his sixshooter. I am not going to get into a game of one upmanship with them or anyone else, for one thing they know their lies better than most know the truth.

How can anyone read the Bible and not see who Jesus is. They are so adamant about ramming the name Jehovah down your throat and I think that is not even a Hebrew name, but an Italian name.

The Watchtower society has done a first class job of indoctrinating these poor souls into their lies and sending them to the slaughter. They are one polished organization. It’s too bad that they are not for God rather than against Him.

Hi Doug—–Just wanted to make clear to you that my husband was never a Jehovah’s Witness— he stood by me for all the 10 yrs but never joined the Organization! Within the 10 yrs he was drilled by any one of the JW’s that stopped by! He would go to an occasional meeting with me ! More so to please me !! We’ve been married 40 years now & our love has grown through our communication to one another. When I opened that door to further research ( which as a JW this is forbidden) I was overwhelmed by the revealing of clear light of information that I was praying for!! It seemed as if even though I read the Bible daily there was a cloud that would prevent me to see the real meaning!! The JW org. with their classes of Watchtower Magazines make you want to concentrate on what they feed you !! And they stress the study of their magazines & pamphlets!! Thanks again for your blog !! Sorry about the lengthy feedback but I felt the need to fill you in !!

The Wt continues to reverse John the Baptist words to “He must decrease and WE must increase” in the minds of the “dogmatized”. Proving the very definition of ANTICHRIST; the primary meaning of “anti” being “instead of”. To the GB Jesus is only “the incredible shrinking man”.

The next time a Jw informs you of the GB appointment to speak for Jehovah ,take them to Isa 44:25-26 to show them that HE has refused to confirm but rather to expose them by NOT fulfilling their false statements concerning 1914,1925,1975,”end of the century” etc.,revealing to all their OWN self appointment as such.They will be quick to point out that “they” are the only ones going “door to door”: .Just like the ones Jesus warns us about in Mt 24 who will come teaching a secret or invisible RETURN of Christ . Jesus himself taught that his verifiable “presence” will not be in the INNER ROOMS, or OUT IN THE DESERT .Everyone who has experienced a flash of lightening at midnight knows that every detail within view is illuminated.MT 24:26-27.OH and if you should mention those other guys who go “door to door”, you know the “Mormons” you will get a laugh out of them with the response “they don’t believe what the bible teaches”.

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is the controlling “legislative”, “judicial”, and “executive” arm of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Their word is law to a Jehovah’s Witness and they hold their words in higher esteem than even God’s word.

Doug, ,I think you will find this recent encounter with some jws at my local walmart interesting. They have had free access to set up carts at both entrances every 4 to 6 weeks now. This time they were targeting the hearing impaired with the pretense of offering “service”.The store manager saw this for what it was ::nothing but pure advantaged prosyeltazing on Walmart property and asked them to leave. You should have seen the fight these people put up. claiming all manner of discrimination,but as you know the wt teaches you ONLY have TELL THE TRUTH TO THOSE WHO DESERVE TO HEAR IT.I wonder if they have ever read that verse in the last chapter in the book of revelation 22:14. I guess they left it out of the THEOCRATIC WAR STRATGEY PLAYBOOK.

Doug ,You may already have knowledge of how the WT invests all those offerings,but it was a real eye opener for me!!! It seems their tax records show them invested in more than a few of the top arms manufacturers and they even have listed some investment in Phillip Morris ;a cigarette producer. I have a JW Elder friend that actually gave up his job at NASA because he had to handle military payloads for the space shuttle, He had to take a low paying job and go “where the need was greater”. Threy sent the poor guy to New Orleans a few days before Hurrican Katrina hit and he lost all his worldly possesions.
.

Good wishes to you, as usual very interesting discussions in this blog.

I’ve just finished watching “Hidden from Jehovahs witnesses video 9d another secret book” on Youtube, I am still astounded by the lies and deception that the WTBTS goes to !!!!!!

Even though I have been free from them for over 10 years I am still shocked by how their worldly policies are devised, the strategies they use to maintain their power. For an organisation which prides itself so much on being truthful (!) , even referring to their twisted versions of their bible and doctrines as “the truth “, I was still shocked to see that they advised jw’s that not everyone deserves the truth, even in a court of law.!!!!!!! No, the more I find out, the sorrier I feel towards the vulnerable jw believers who have no idea they are being exploited emotionally, financially, on the basis of their gender and in a myriad of other ways

The Hidden from jehovahs witnesses videos are so well researched, really good viewing if anyone is interested.

Doug, I’m wondering if you know anything about a data base of photos of “apostates” and “opposing ones” .that the WT is said to be compiling at each local level ? I have seen several UTUBE recording where JW working out of their “KoolAid” stands have fled very quickly.: ,even stating that they ” have seen a picture ” of the person attempting to approach and engage them through leading questions. They seem to have forget “be ready to give an answer to EVERYONE about the hope without .”

Re. “Give answer to anyone” They will not give answer to anyone they feel threatened by. That is anyone who has a question they cannot answer. They gnash their teeth then run like the wind! Sometimes it only takes one very simple question. If you have attempted to help a JW, you know exactly what I mean. One poor JW accused me of trying to argue with him. Absolutely no argument occurred. I just asked question he couldn’t answer logically or biblically. He wanted nothing to do with me after that. I pleaded with him to talk with me.

In the little brown “REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES” book, the Jw is instructed to really play up the authority of the bible in the ear of the targeted prey—” I’m calling you a free home Bible course” p.12,this after on p.10 ” Do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word or do you feel that it is just a good book WRITTEN BY MEN”? “We’re encouraging folks to READ their Bible” (At least the half that proves our point and to ignore the ones that show the “tower twisting”) .After the Biblical Hook is set :The authority in all matters now is shifted to muli headed Hydra of the Governing body. A classic Bait And switch, still echoing the ancient serpent’s “Hath God REALLY said….” Maybe this is where they found the idea for the title of the current tool of cloning “What does the Bible REALLY teach” But I encourage everyone to keep repeating the scripture in their ears like children sounding out the words of their father. An old preacher once declared that “I defend the bible the same way I defend a lion– I open the gate and let it out !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work Doug.

Alena
all the videos “hidden from jehovahs witnesses ” are on youtube, the ones I have watched are thoroughly researched, backed up with documents for viewers to see. I haven’t seen them all as some are over 2 hours long

I’ve noticed one thing that if you are discussing something with them, they aren’t really listening to you, because they are searching for the scripture in their mind to up you. The saddest thing is while you read the Bible and let God speak to you, they don’t comprehend that while they were reading the Bible, man was telling them what it said. They don’t understand that had they just read the Bible, most likely they would have never become involved in this Satanic organization.
Blessings

Hello Doug i wanted to thank you for your response to the post “another letter from a Jehovah’s Witness” most of these fools who post such nonsense are clearly under the WT mind control mechanism they boldly claim how loving the Org is however if that were true why would people like me say it isn’t loving i don’t say there is no love when there is love, i call a spade a spade in other words i’m a straight talker i don’t make stuff up unlike what the WT and FDS [Faithful & Discreet Slave] say about us calling us liars and all sorts of malicious accusations this organization brags all the time about how wonderful they are even though Jesus said quite clearly to not blow your trumpet ahead of you. They go to a lot of trouble to print books and mags spending large amounts of money of huge printing presses when King Solomon clearly stated the making of many books would be burdensome. They treat the lonely and depressed in a despicable manner they do not allow a proper appeal process to take place if one feels they have been harshly judged, they basically employ slave labor at bethel a volunteer would be someone perhaps that does a few hours a week or month not 35 hours per week with out a proper wage. I could go on and on about the hypocrisy that seeps out of this org.

I think the main reason for “marking”,”disfellowshipping” and “shunning” is to keep the illusion o “love among themselves” in the mind of the average witness where these are proclaimed as “acts of love”.

Actually I believe these practices are “baked in” to the Watchtower’s code to enforce their authority among the faithful. If there were no consequences then dissidents, like me, could say whatever we wanted to say with impunity. They certainly can’t have that!

Losing one’s friends and family is a pretty big motivator to “walk the party line”.

Just got introduced to the JW. Watching from afar! Is it normal to have closet alcoholics in this cult? I’ve noticed there are quite a few, and they haven’t been kicked out but they shun people who have been kicked out. Hipocrit?

We do not want to argue, all we want them to do, is accept that they are sinners and need to repent and then ask them if they accept that Yeshua (The Lord Jesus Christ) died for them and was raised to life on the 3rd day and resides in Heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords….if they agree t all of this and speak it out or answer yes, then just tell them according to Romans 10: 9 they are now saved. Also try and show them John 3: 3-5 where Jesus himself stated to a religious JW type that if he is not Born Again he will not inherit the Kingdom of God, wherever they believe that is. Then it is up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. My wife had not spoken with her older sister since 1919 and she has been captive to that cult. We spke on Skype about a month ago and she spoke out the above and now Chris my wife talks to her all the time now about the Lord. Blessings David

A saving confession is one that embraces the biblical fact that Jesus is Jehovah the Son and that the Father,the Son and the Holy Spirit raised the very same physical sinless body from the dead.Even if a witness repeats the words of Rom 10:9 in your hearing there is at the same time a redefining and denying of the truth proclaimed therin.

Yes Gerry a saving confession after acknowledging that you are a sinner by confessing your sins and asking Jesus into your heart and confessing Him as your Lord and Savior is what according to the Bible is the path to salvation.
Blessings
Bill

I am curious to know if you mention “asking Jesus into your heart” to the JWs you encounter. If no heart belief is involved salvation is not complete according to ROM 10:10,and the verbalization becomes an incantation not a confession.A JW will understand ROM 10:9 as “If you confess Michael the archangel as second in command and believe that Jehovah recreated him you will survive armagedden”.

Hi Gerry, Yes I know what you are talking about. However Yahweh knows our heart. My wife accpted Yeshua as her Saviour before she understood the triunity, but it did not stop the Lord working powerfully in her life. She turned her back on the false teachings of that cult which se was born into and remained in it for 52 years. The Lord saw that and then the Holy Spirit (Ha Kadesh) started to teach her who Yeshua really was.

I met a Born Again Christian back in the 1980’s whilst doing secular work door to door. The brother asked me if I knew Jesus Christ, to which I answered yes as I was a JW and an Elder in the congregation. He was very kind and displayed real love and so did other members of his House Church. He asked me the same questions I posted last time and I agreed to what he asked and spoke it out. The Holy Spirit then worked on me and I was never happy in the Cult after that.

It took me around 16 years to finally break free and then be led to go to a loving Church with a loving Pastor. It was then I started studying with a Bible College and that has led me to understand God’s will.for us. Actually not that many JWs know what the Bible really teaches, so your point about ‘incantation’ or ‘confession’ is not relevant as you or I do not know what is anyones heart. We are told by Yeshua himself not to Judge and that is one of the reasons I got out of the Cult.

I have known others who glibly say the ‘Sinners Prayer’ and then carry on living in Sin and think they are saved. I do not believe in Once Saved always saved. I believe we have to remain in Christ and do as he askes us to do in his 2 great commandments. The Lord will never leave us or forsake us, but those who want to continue in the filth of this World will gradully wriggle out of his hands and throw the Gift of Eternal life back into his face.

My own x Son In Law did exactly that..and he was never a JW. I even baptised him in water, but he never gave up drinking a womanising and has had 2 other kids by different women after he left the Lord, he even swears at the name of Jesus Christ……we still pray that he will return, but is he ‘saved’ Hebrews 6:4-6 is quite clear about this.

Gerry, first, you keep saying Jehovah, which is not a name addressing God until centuries after Jesus. I prefer God, Heavenly Father, Yahweh.

When you acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart and take control of your life, these are not just words. This is from your heart as the Holy Spirit convicts you and guides you as you turn away from your sinful life and embrace Jesus and follow Him.

Praise Jesus I found this site. Oh goodness how it’s captivated my heart in so many ways. There are so many lost souls in this “loving religion”. One to add is my mom almost allowed my twin sister to die when she had stage 4 cancer because she needed a blood transfusion. Thankfully the Lord knows the end from the beginning and my dad got a court order for a blood transfusion. There are so many other stories I wish I could write about but it’s all my past and I’m truly grateful Jesus creates a new in us. My mom’s whole family is very active in JW org. My cousin lives in Bethel with his wife and uncle is an elder. My mom (who have been estranged for almost 6 years) is a full time pioneer. I just pray daily that God change their hearts. My whole life until I was saved, I felt constantly judge, condemned and unloved until I was saved 7 years ago. Thank you Jesus.

Our dear daughter died on Thursday 21/12/17 with aggresive cancer and she had only recently been appointed in the Church we now attend as Administrator in October after 17 years teaching. Thankfully both her children are now adults. However the evening before she died, we went to see our lovely Naomi in the Hospice and her ‘JW in-laws’ were there to see her. When we walked in, we were totally ignored, no form of greeting or sympathy. We used to have a reasonable relationship befor we left the evil Cult in 2001. Their Son, our Son In Law was disjusted. They are so brainwashed that they ignore all common decency. The odd thing is, they hypocritically visited Naomi even though she was once a JW and her Husband was, but had been BA Christians. for many years. So 1 rule for immediate family and another for those like us. They really do not know the meaning of Love.

Our Grandaughter Naomi’s daughter was there also with her boyfreind who has said in the past that he did not believe in God, but he saw the difference……he said that he felt heat going up his body that night before she died and he heard a voice to tell him to go and be with Naomi in the Hospice at 3.00 am.

He told us that he felt that our daughter Naomi had an audience with the Lord, just before she died. I said to him, do you now accept the Lord as your Saviour and he said yes. He has been amazing towards our dear Naomi and did everything he could for her over the past few weeks. We only moved back to England in April after nearly 10 years in Cyprus as Missionaries for our dear Lord and we mainly moved back to be near our family. So very pleased to hear about your healing Amanda. Bless you

I can’t even begin to imagine how that must feel. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this saddest of times.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are programmed to do things out of sheer duty and for appearances. They are always cognizant of “how it will look to others” both inside and outside the cult. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are the most co-dependent group on the planet in my opinion. Because of the programming, I have to constantly fight that tendency toward obsessing about how others view me, even now, decades after leaving.

The word I believe you might be looking for with regard to your in-laws is “cold”. They’re emotionally stilted in so many ways. Emotion, real, raw, unfettered emotion is considered as weakness by most JW’s. Instead they live in a tightly controlled shell that makes them appear to be normal but inside they are anything but. The Watchtower calls this robotic means of relating to others as the “new personality” and refers to their former self image as the “old personality”. If there was ever a direct reference to brainwashing in this cult, stated in their own words, this is it.

David, I am very sorry for your loss. As for the relatives from the Satanic organization, I used to think that they were stupid, but in reality the cult is so slick, that they are brain washed.
May there be happier days ahead.
Again, my condolences.
Blessings
Bill

Pastor Hall, When in Jerusalem in 1983, I went to the grave of Horatio Spafford who wrote the hymn “It is well with my soul”. I trust that you will draw strength from the lyrics of that composition at this time of grief and sadness .What occasioned the writing of this hymn was the loss of four daughters within the span of twelve minutes and the near loss of their mother. God grant you comfote at this time. Gerry H

Thank you Gerry and Alena…The Father in Law at least phoned me last night and apoligised for his families thoughtlessness and I thanked him and said Bless you. We must never curse as that is what Satan wants. Send blessings and maybe they will be rescued from the fire of evil teachings and sending them to the place Satan will welcome them too.

Yes Gerry I know that hymn and it has excellent words. May the dear Lord Yeshua be with you this day and whatever we each believe about the 25th December, it is the Love of our Lord and Saviour that is paramount. Bless you in Yeshua Ha Mashiach’s name David

JWs choose to ignore what Hebrews 1: 5-7 tells us, The Son Is Superior to Angels 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.”

If Yeshua were an Angel would he be Worshipping himself? Yeshua was the first to be begotten by means of the Holy Spirit through a Virgin Girl.. Then ALL the angels WORSHIPPED him and the WT tried to change the meaning in their fake Bible and substituted the word obescience, which in Greek means the same thing.

Pastor Hall. Excellent and my thoughts exactly. Christ allowed others to worship Him and He was sinless, so, if allowing worship was wrong He no longer would be sinless. Thanks for the comment reply. John

Some of the most awful things this Satanic Cult teaches actually prevent real ‘truth seekers’ from the Truth of Jesus Christ and one of those very important things is that they prevent the so called ‘Other Sheep’ from partaking of the New Covenant as TRUE followers of Yeshua our redeemer. True Christianity bserves 2 ordanancies. 1, Baptism in Water and 2. Partaking of the emblems of bread and wine that allows us to become part of the body of Christ.

The other satanic thing, is that they claim Yeshua was referring to a ‘seperate class’ when he said “Other Sheep I have, which are not of this fold…..” This is where they cherry pick verses and they do not connect with Paul’s words in Romans 11

Those verses are so important as Yeshua was talking about future disciples and followers of him being grafted into the Hebrew rootstock….first the Samaritans and then the Gentiles…

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you”

As Christians we are grafted into the Root of the true Israel thus fullfilling the Covenant given to Abraham that all nations will be blessed by accepting the Grace of our dear Lord.

John 3: 3-5 records the amazing words that Yeshua spoke to Nicodemus a Pharisee that he needed to be Born Again. A Jewish man of that time would be thought of as being Born Again in a Spiritual sence, but Yeshua was talking about being Born of Water & Spirit. This is another satanic teaching of the WT Cult as they say it only applies to the so called Anointed of the WT adherents. Revelation 7 & 14 talks about 12000 from each of the Jewish tribes who are special to the Lord, totalling 144.000 who were chosen way back in early Jewish Christian times.

Whilst talking to JWs that called on us in Cyprus where we lived until this year, I would take them to this verses where it says that if we are not Born Again we will not see the Kingdom…now this is the point they have not noticed. Yeshua NEVER said it was Kingdom on Earth or Kingdom in Heaven…..Gods Kingdom is with Mankind and they will be his people, where ever we are. So to gain life in God’s Kingdom we need to be Born Again and the only way to do that, is Confess with our mouth, that Yeshua?Jesus Christ is Lord and came to Earth to redeem Humankind and that he dies for our Sins and rose on the 3rd day and is living in heavenly Glory waiting for his Bride.

Romans 10: “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

As most of us know, the name they put in these verses is Je…vah (in the NWT) which is abhorant to me. These verses are all about Yeshua and accepting HIM into our entire being and then the Lord implants into us New Life by means of the Holy Spirit.

This brings me to another false doctrine of the WT… the Holy Spirit is not the Wind or Electricity, but he is the Living Being of Yahweh himself and can go anywhere and reside anywhere he so desires. This was the Amazing revelation to us many years ago after getting rid of the BOULDERS of concrete off our shoulders. The Holy Spirit is Living In US….alleluya

I’m glad that you talked about the Holy Spirit, because the Bible says He, not it or electricity or anything else. He will glorify Jesus, He will convict of sin, He will comfort us, He will guide us. Yes, He is very much God. I just wish folks would learn to read the Bible and let God instruct them rather than let some Satanic organization tell them what it says.
Keep up the good work.
Blessings, Bill

Alena
Just to say thankyou Doug for another year of this blog, where you invite ex j’s to seek and give support, I certainly have felt that this forum has given me scope to vent my anger at the lies I was told, equally this platform has given many to seek comfort from other ex j’s.

Yes Doug, you have certainly put a lot of good work into this site and forum. Bless you for the forth coming year and let us pray that many Watchtower Captives will be set free and welcome the Holy Spirit into their lives and recognise that he is the living manifestation of our Holy God who supports us and cares for us in our troubles and concerns in this satanic world full of traps and depravity. Bless everyone who comes onto this site and reads the amazing revelations of what this and other cults do to very sincere peoples minds. David

I’ve known hundreds of JW’s as I was brought up in the fold. As an adult looking back , it’s obvious to me that everyone who is drawn to JW is looking for a band-aid to fix their limited scope of enjoying a beautiful and wonderful life. They need an organization to tell them what to do and how to behave and what to think. Truly in every sense, they can’t successfully handle the world.. The big bad world that JW fear.

My wish for all is that everyone knows that God is love, you are loved by God. You are enough.

It reminds me of the story of a Monk who is denied access to heaven… The Monk says , “God why can’t I get into Heaven? I’ve lived a life of poverty, I’ve sacrificed good food, housing, vacations, and spent my life serving you.” God then replied , ” Yes , I created delicious food for you to enjoy, beaches with white sand and Palm trees for you to enjoy, mountains for skiing and yet you shunned all the beauty I created for you.. You did not accept my gifts on earth.

I studied with JW’s for 10 years and then got baptized in 1992 . I remained slightly active for a couple of years and I just couldn’t find the joy that others said they had in their service to Jehovah . I eventually just stopped attending meetings and going out in field service . About two years ago I was having a tough time with the things I was seeing happening on our planet , the extent of man’s depravity and evil and it went me running back to the kingdom hall . I need something to hold fast to . Everlasting life on a paradise earth with no one ever getting sick or dying. Who doesn’t want that ? I became a publisher again and started attending all the meetings , conventions and assemblies but again I cannot seem to find that joy . Also I have been with sisters who are pioneers who have blatantly disobeyed traffic laws and elders that got so drunk at a public event that my son and I had to drive everyone home but I can’t talk to my daughter because she disassociated herself . I just wish I had the absolute truth , and to find that out I may have to go if alone because I don’t trust the other religious organizations either .

I get it. I did the same thing for a short period after leaving the first time. I tried to make it work but you know, when you know, you know. You just haven’t quite accepted it yet. It takes time.

In the meantime, start taking care of YOU. Think about what YOU want in your life now, and not in some utopian society in a far distant future that may or may not ever happen. Figure out what you think about God and life and the Bible. Read it for yourself without all of the “helps” that the Watchtower puts there to keep you out of “trouble”.

You’ll find that God’s word is powerful but only if you take it at face value and not try to read any hidden meaning or messages into it. The Watchtower claims they have a “lock” on the truth because they, and only they, can interpret God’s word. There is nothing further from the truth. It is a lie that cult leaders promulgate among their faithful to keep them in line.

I’m sorry you have to go through this but many of us on this blog have. We survived. You will too. I hope you can see your way to heal yourself and to stop obsessing over this cult. Toward that end I suggest you read anything written by Steven Hassan. Combatting Cult Mind Control was the book that helped me to finally get free of this cult. I suggest it highly.

I was raised as a JW and most of my maternal family is still very active in this organized religion. Let me just say that I was saved when I was 29. It was all in God’s timing. He ultimately knew I would come to Him. I have never felt the joy I now have in my life since that saving grace. I know it’s hard, trust me. I think it may help if you get a NKJV bible and not the “watchtower society” bible. Also Charles Stanley is an amazing pastor who teaches God’s word straight from the bible and he’s very easy to listen to as well as he will not leave you confused. He has an app called “In Touch” which have daily devotions and has written many amazing books. Maybe that can be a starting point. I’m now 37 and have never seen my life transformed in such a miraculous way. I have an 11 year old daughter who loves the Lord and is not being raised the way I was. Robbed of so much joy. God bless you and will be praying for you.

Oh my goodness. Wow. What a small world. I know all about friction in families all too well. I met my husband in 2010 and he’s the one who told me about the Lord. I started attending Refuge Church in Atascadero and was saved in August of 2010. The difference in love and acceptance, forgiveness, mercy and grace as a Christian is nothing of how I felt being raised in a “Kingdom Hall”. I have never felt so loved and never felt less judged. I will pray that Lisa accept the Lord so she can experience the joy we all have. It doesn’t come from being trapped in a bubble. I haven’t seen my mom and sister in 6 years. I pray for their salvation daily. I’m so happy for you. All things happen in His timing. I’m just glad I found Him sooner than later. God bless you Ed.

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About Me

Hi I'm Doug Shields.
I was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses for twenty-three years of my life. I finally realized that they didn't have "the truth" and I left the organization.

That decision cost me members of my family, my friends, my reputation, and in some respects, my identity. I had to rebuild my life one brick at a time.

Today I'm a happy, productive, and highly fulfilled person.

The purpose of this blog is to help others who are experiencing strained or broken relationships, self destructive behavior, addictions, depression, and low self esteem as a direct result of involvement in destructive mind control cults.

I hope you find this blog to be as helpful to you in reading it as is to me in writing it.